DETECTIVES RECOVER STOLEN FIREARM AND GHOST GUN DURING TRAFFIC STOP

(Wilmington, DE 19809) On Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at approximately 5:42 p.m., Detectives assigned to the Active Crime Trends Team were conducting proactive patrols in the area of Governor Printz Boulevard when they observed a white Toyota Camry commit a traffic violation. Detectives activated their emergency lights and initiated a traffic stop, contacting the driver, 19-year-old Cineale Lavjonne, and passengers 18-year-old Jermiah Banner and a 17-year-old male juvenile, all of Wilmington.

During a probable cause search, Detectives recovered a loaded 9mm handgun reported stolen from the Wilmington Police Department’s jurisdiction in September 2025. A continued search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of a loaded polymer 9mm handgun without a serial number, commonly referred to as a “ghost gun,” along with approximately 155 grams of marijuana.

As the investigation progressed, Detectives, with assistance from Delaware Probation and Parole, obtained and executed a search warrant at Lavjonne’s residence in the 1700 block of Pennrock Road in Wilmington, as he is a person prohibited.

During the search, Officers recovered approximately 10 rounds of ammunition, 309 grams of marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.

All suspects were taken into custody and transported to New Castle County Police Headquarters.

Cineale Lavjonne was charged with the following offenses:

  • Two felony counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
  • Two felony counts of possession of a firearm/ammunition by a person prohibited
  • Two felony counts of carrying a concealed deadly weapon
  • One felony count of receiving a stolen firearm
  • One felony count of possession with intent to deliver
  • One felony count of possession of a controlled substance, Tier 1
  • One misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia
  • One violation of failure to signal continuously
  • One violation of improper lane change

Lavjonne was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in lieu of $78,000 cash bail.

Jermiah Banner was charged with the following offenses:

  • Two felony counts of carrying a concealed deadly weapon
  • One felony count of receiving a stolen firearm
  • One felony count of possession of an untraceable firearm

Banner was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in lieu of $7,000 secured bail.

The 17-year-old juvenile was charged with:

  • One felony count of second-degree conspiracy

The juvenile was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 11 and released on his own recognizance.

Cineale Lavjonne – 19

Jermiah Banner – 18

MEDIA ALERT: Police Academy Graduation

54th Recruit Class Graduation — New Castle County Police Academy

Graduating Officers:

Abdulla Abdulla – New Castle County Police Department

Madison Arnold – New Castle County Police Department

Christopher Berry, Jr. – New Castle County Police Department

Nicholas Classie – New Castle County Police Department

Rachel Craine – New Castle County Police Department

Jackson Dean – New Castle County Police Department

Lucas Desa – New Castle County Police Department

Colin Donegan – New Castle County Police Department

Joshua Echevarria – New Castle County Police Department

Cameron Eisenbraun – New Castle County Police Department

Christian Francis – New Castle County Police Department

Oscar Giraldo – New Castle County Police Department

Joseph Greco – New Castle County Police Department

Robert Hanshaw – New Castle County Police Department

Robert Hicks, III – New Castle County Police Department

Matthew James – New Castle County Police Department

Colin Jones – New Castle County Police Department

Gregory Jordon – New Castle County Police Department

Alexander Krick – New Castle County Police Department

Patrick Lounsbury – New Castle County Police Department

Shahzaib Masood – New Castle County Police Department

James Morrison – New Castle County Police Department

Michael Napoli – New Castle County Police Department

Tori Pennington – New Castle County Police Department

Daniel Pira – New Castle County Police Department

Braeden Pittman – New Castle County Police Department

Anthony Poehlmann – New Castle County Police Department

Aidan Ramos – New Castle County Police Department

William Rider – New Castle County Police Department

Brennan Rozich – New Castle County Police Department

Alexander Ruiz – New Castle County Police Department

Ethan Samick – New Castle County Police Department

Aleigha Saunders – New Castle County Police Department

Charles Simmons, III – New Castle County Police Department

Owen Slank – New Castle County Police Department

Tairaye Tedder – New Castle County Police Department

Terrance Tillman – New Castle County Police Department

Savannah Turcol – New Castle County Police Department

Xavier Voge – New Castle County Police Department

Jarrett Weglarz – New Castle County Police Department

Madison Finnan – Newark Police Department

Julien McGonigal – Newark Police Department

When:

Thursday, March 26, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.

(Seating begins at 5:30)

Where:

Cab Calloway School of the Arts

100 North Dupont Road

Wilmington, Delaware, 19807

SUSPECT ARRESTED AFTER VIOLENT CONFRONTATION LEADS TO ASSAULTING OFFICERS AND DISCARDING FIREARM

(Wilmington, DE 19808)- On Thursday, March 19, 2026, at approximately 12:06 p.m., officers with the New Castle County Division of Police responded to a motor vehicle collision involving a pedestrian in the area of Oregon Road and Nebraska Road within the Park Place Trailer Park community.

The pedestrian, later identified as 32-year-old Maliq Smith-Lemon of Wilmington, was not injured. Following the collision, Smith-Lemon confronted the driver, escalating the situation by physically striking the vehicle, demanding the driver exit, and making threats of violence.

Upon officers’ arrival, it was determined that Smith-Lemon would be taken into custody. As officers attempted to detain him, he fled on foot but was quickly apprehended in the 4600 block of Haverford Place. While being placed into a patrol vehicle, Smith-Lemon engaged in multiple physical altercations with officers, resulting in minor injuries to the officers.

After Smith-Lemon was secured in the patrol vehicle, a concerned citizen called 911 to report that a firearm may have been discarded during the foot pursuit. Officers returned to the area and recovered a handgun in a nearby parking lot. Further investigation revealed that Smith-Lemon is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a prior felony conviction in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Smith-Lemon was transported to New Castle County Police Headquarters, where he continued to resist and engaged in a physical altercation with two additional officers, causing another minor injury.

Smith-Lemon has been charged with the following offenses:

  • Three felony counts of Assault Second Degree (injury to a law enforcement officer)
  • Three felony counts of Resisting Arrest
  • One felony count of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
  • One felony count of Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited
  • Two misdemeanor counts of Offensive Touching (law enforcement)
  • One misdemeanor count of Terroristic Threatening
  • One misdemeanor count of Disorderly Conduct
  • One misdemeanor count of Harassment
  • One misdemeanor count of Offensive Touching
  • One misdemeanor count of Criminal Mischief

Smith-Lemon was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on $88,300.00 cash bail.

Maliq Smith-Lemon – 32